• Islam arose in Arabian peninsula, and the new religion faithfully reflected the social and cultural coditions of its homeland.
  • Islamic armies traveled outside of Arabia carrying with them their religion and their authority to other empires in the Middle East
  • The Muslims established political authority in the Middle East with the rise of the Umayyad Dynasty in 661 C.E. bringing stability to the Islamic community
  • Islamic law established a common cultural foundation that facilitated the dealings between the different peoples that resided in various Islamic lands throughout the dar-al-Islam.Ulama, qadis, and missionaies helped to bridge differences in cultural traditions and spread Islamic values
  • Many Muslims interacted with people of other cultural traditions. Many of the people conquered by Muslims converted to Islam and brought some of their cultural traditions into the Islamic society.
  • Women had more rights in Islam than in most other places and were treated as individuals instead of as a possesion of men. But later the Quran reinforced male dominance and placed women under stricter laws like being required to wear a veil in public.
  • The bedouin peoples developed a better sense of loyalty to their clans and defended their similar intrests with determenination.

By Matthew Behrendt and David Carlson

Not unapproved by Victor
checked by Chelsea and Alli